While there are plenty of Christmas movies made for theaters and TV, when it comes to Thanksgiving, the pool is much smaller. This is even more the case with horror films, the most prominent as of 2023 being the film Troma Thanksgiving. However, Hostel and Borders director Eli Roth decided to fill that gap in 2023, turning his trailer into a parody of Grinder in an updated feature film, Thanksgiving.
After a Black Friday sale results in several civilians being injured and killed, a mysterious killer in a pilgrim mask targets those involved in the tragedy a year later on Thanksgiving. Roth’s acclaimed $46.5 million horror film was a surprise hit and is now a Thanksgiving classic for horror fans. Furthermore, Thanksgiving also better represents Roth’s talent as a director than his next film, Bordershe would be.
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Thanksgiving, one of the best horror films of 2023, is a tried-and-true horror film, complete with gory, unique kills, a memorable masked killer, over-the-top one-liners, and a perfect crime mystery for the last girl to solve. It’s not about reinventing the wheel, but about delivering exactly what horror fans want this time of year. Thanksgiving also fills a void for a Thanksgiving killer — Halloween has its icon in Michael Myers, while Christmas has a new face of horror with Art the Clown.
Although Thanksgiving is more cynical and violent than other Christmas films, it is not afraid to emphasize its anti-consumerist message.
Additionally, Thanksgiving Surprisingly Gets It Right as a Holiday Movie. Of How the Grinch Stole Christmas to It’s a wonderful lifeMany beloved and successful holiday films champion the idea that material possessions and money can never compete with the time of loved ones. While Thanksgiving is more cynical and violent than other holiday films, and is not afraid to emphasize its anti-consumerist message. It all starts with a bloody Black Friday destroying families. Thanksgiving is about being grateful, as are the loved ones around you, and Roth’s 2023 horror film embraces that notion.
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Thanksgiving is the antithesis of Borders on several levels. Where Borders defends a cast full of stars, ThanksgivingThe group’s main group of teenagers are newcomers. Furthermore, established actors, such as Patrick Dempsey, are not advertised as the film’s main attraction. Where Borders’ budget is estimated at US$100 million, Thanksgiving’s is a fraction of that, at $15 million (via The Numbers). Finally, Thanksgiving is an original idea, while Borders is an established IP.
It’s no news that Roth, whose first feature film is Cabin feverhits the spot with original, lower-budget horror films that don’t rely on star power and aren’t afraid to resort to gory practical effects. Thanksgiving reflects this talent more than Borders. In fact, between these two Roth films, it is Thanksgiving which is already confirmed to have a sequel. Fans of this horror holiday can rejoice when there are several unanswered questions to Thanksgiving 2 to respond.
Source: The Numbers